PRINT MEDIA GUIDELINES PREAMBLE The print media in Ghana have a long, albeit checkered history and tradition of press freedoms and responsibilities dating back to 1822. Until recently, they largely operated without written codes or guidelines. Whereas the 1992 Constitution guarantees the freedom and independence of the media, and forbids censorship in Ghana, it also enjoins the National Media Commission“to take all appropriate measures to ensure the highest journalistic standards”. The Print Media Guidelines have, therefore, been prepared by the Commission to help the press balance freedom of expression and the public right to know with individual rights and matters of national or public interest. All persons working in the press are urged to respect and honour both the letter and spirit of these guidelines.” 1. ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS a. The Press has a fundamental duty to seek and publish the truth. Journalists should be honest, fair and factual in gathering, reporting, interpreting and publishing information. b. The Press should take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted material, including pictures, data and graphics. c. Whenever it is recognized that an inaccurate, misleading statement or distorted report has been published, it should be corrected promptly and with due prominence. An apology must be published whenever appropriate. d. Accuracy and fairness can best be achieved by avoiding deliberate distortion, by attempting to get information from diverse sources and by diligently seeking out subjects of news stories to give them an opportunity to respond to allegations and misrepresentations. e. The Press is free to be partisan. However, facts must be distinguished from comments and conjecture. f. Analysis and commentary should be distinguished from straight news reports and not represented as fact. g. The Press must avoid misleading headlines, news teasers, promotional materials and quotations. h. Direct quotes, delineated by quote marks, must be distinguished from paraphrased speech. The Press must ensure that when quoting people directly their exact words are reproduced in the original language. 1